es under the title of
the "European Times," but now under entirely new management, though
still a propagandist sheet. It is nothing like so strong a
propagandist for Germany as the "Continental Daily Mail" is for France.
But it has the potentiality of a counterblast. It makes one blush to
see English newspapers on German book-stalls with "HUNS' LATEST WHINE"
in large letters staring at the Germans as they pass. Strangely
enough, the Germans don't seem to mind these headlines; they don't tear
the papers off the stalls and burn them in indignation. They've been
drilled not to do such things. One would think, however, there would
be considerable scope for a good German daily, printed in the English
language, expounding European events from another point of view. The
European Press has that possibility.
Here, however, you find little that is helpful yet. I am all for
truth. It is the best type of propaganda--the only type that is not
loathsome. And surely there is enough in the domain of the simple
truth about Europe and Germany to touch men's hearts, whilst
There groans a world in anguish
Just to teach us sympathy.
I hoped Herr Baumfelder would make his paper into a living journal
which all would be glad to buy in order to know the facts of the hour
in Germany. No use to continue working the familiar lines of German
propaganda such as the "Menace to German Women of the Black Troops on
the Rhine," now so much exploited in press and cinema in Germany--or
the "Who was responsible for the war?" theme, alluded to above. It is
sad to read the verbal violence of some president of "League of German
Patriots" who does not believe the editor of the "Spectator" when he
says "_We for our part, can honestly say that ever since the Armistice
we have wanted to create an atmosphere helpful to Germany._"
"You the murderers of hundreds of thousands of innocent German children
dare to publish such a deliberate falsehood," says "The president."
"You are practically sodden with falsehood and hypocrisy."
No doubt the president of the L.G.P. has lost money in the war, and has
an especial grudge against England, but that sort of writing makes
potential friends into persistent enemies. And English readers of the
paper will say, "After all, what fools the Germans are."
There is a cynical disbelief in England's idealism. Perhaps that
cannot be wondered at. We have been, or seem to have been, very false
to our idealism
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